Extension-table



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. J. GOUCH.

EXTENSION TABLE.

(No Modem 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. GOUCH. EXTENSION TABLE.

No. 506,161. f Patented oct. s, 189s.r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL COUCH, OF CLAYTON, NEW YORK.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patenti No. 506,161, dated October 3, 1893. l

Application Iiled November 11, 1891. Serial No. l111.576. (No model.)

A which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to extension tables of l the class wherein there is used a series of strips secured closely together to a piece of fabric forming a flexible section that is adapted to constitute the top of the table when extended, and it has for its object to provide a table of this description which shall be very simple in operation and construction and admit of maximum extension without impairment of strength.

To these ends the invention consistsin the table having the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter specified, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of my table when closed, but with one of the hinged leaves I employ at the ends extended. Fig. 2, is a sectional View of a portion of what is shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the table fully extended; Fig. 4, a horizontal section on line a; Fig. 3,1ooking toward the bottom of the table top, and Fig. 5, a detailed per.

spective of the hinged leaf support.

A, A designate the two legs at each end of the table, the same being connected, on their two sides, at their tops by cross pieces B, B', and each being provided with a vertical slot or recess a that extends from its top, extending down near its bottom, the purpose of which being hereinafter set forth.

C designates arectangular piece secured to the top of the legs C and constituting the top when the table is closed, and the middle portion when the table is extended, being located, of course, between the two pairs of legs A. A.

To the inner cross piece B of each pair of legs A A, is attached one end of a iiexible sec-l tion D, whose outer end is attached to the adjacent edge of the top piece C, said section consisting of a number of narrow strips cemented or tacked, side by side to a single or, as shown several pieces of fabric, d whose free ends are attached respectively to the top piece C and the outer face of the inner crosspiece B.

A series of slides E of a construction. similar to those used in ordinary extension tables extend between the two pairs of legs A, A and connect them together, so as to enable them to be moved from and toward each other.

When the table is closed, the flexible portion is wholly passed down into and contained in the space provided, by slotting or recessing the legs A, A, and when it is desired to extend the table, said section is drawn out sufliciently for the required length, simply by moving the two pairs oflegs apart after the manner of the ordinary insertible-leaf ex.

tension tables.

Bridging over the space formed by slotting the two end legs, is a piece F having a length equal to the width of the table, and wide enough to cover and extend from the outer cross-piece B to a point in line with the inner wall of the slot or recess a. Said piece F whose upper face is Hush with and forms a continuation of the surface of the table top is hinged atits outer edgeto the outer crosspiece B', in such a manner as to be capable of a rise and fall, while its free inner edge is beveled or rounded on its under side so as to be quite thin or sharp as shown at f. As thus constructed, such piece F will offer no obstruction either to the withdrawal of the flexible section from the space provided in the legs, or to its return, because in the former case, the rounded or beveled edge, when engaged by the strips will cause the piece to easily rise, on its hinge, and in the latter, as the edge formed by the beveling is a sharp one, there is no abrupt surface to be encountered by the strips of the iexible section, so that they will readily pass thereunder and raise it on their return to their storing place. The beveling of the edge of the piece F and that to a sharp point, insures that a close joint will be made with the contiguous part so that its surface will be exactly in the same plane, as the adjacent surface of the top as best shown in Fig. 2. The action of the bridge portion IOO F is entirely automatic, as its weight will cause its fall after being raised by the passing strips of the flexible section. If thought desirable, springs may be used to supplement the weight of the said piece.

As an expedient to lock the bridge piece F down and so prevent the movement eitherin or out of the flexible piece, which can only occur by the raising of said piece, I make its hinged edge abrupt, and hinge also the front or outer cross piece B', a leaf G with an abrupt edge which is adapted to abut against the abrupt edge of said piece when the leaf is raised to the same plane as that of the piece. Said leaf, of course, also adds to the length of the table. The leaf is held in its raised position by means of a bar II that is pivoted at one end to the lower edge of the front cross piece B', and whose other end engages by means of laterally projecting pins 7L, h, two grooved strips secured; one, I, rigidly to the under side of the leaf and the other, I', pivotally thereto. The latter has a notch z" in its edge adapted when the leaf is raised to a horizontal position, to engage the bar I-I which at this time occupies an upwardly inclined position, and so lock theleaf as raised. A spring K secured to the under side of the leaf operates to throw and hold the notch in engagement with the bar H,when the leaf is raised. To lower the leaf it is needful simply to move the strip I against the stress of the spring to disengage the notch 'n from the bar H, The latter is automatin cally moved to its leaf-supporting position when the leaf is raised by reason of its e11- gagement with the grooved strips. When the leaf is lowered it moves into the space between thelatter.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my table is most simple in construction and operation, involving no complicatedv mechanism whatever. Although allowing of great extension, it`never the less canbe reduced to compact and small compass. To operate necessitates merely the drawing apart and moving together of the table ends, according as a larger or a smaller table is required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a table, having a vertically recessed leg, with cross-piece B anda piece F hinged to the upper edge thereof, of a leaf hinged to said piece, and having an abrupt edge abutting against said piece, a grooved strip I, rigidly secured to the under side of said leaf, a grooved strip I pivoted to the under side of the leaf parallel with the strip I and having a notch on the side adjacent to the strip I and near its pivot, a bar H, pivoted at one end substantially in vertical line with the pivot of the leaf, and having lateral pins Working in the grooves of the strips I and I', and the spring K, pivoted to the under side of the leaf and acting on the pivoted strip I near its free end, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL COUCI-I.

Witnesses:

H. W. Monsn, A. A. WARNER. 

